Love it, Victoria ... especially your thought that if you weigh more, you can pack more! 😂🤣😂 I may have had that thought too, lol. Yes, figuring out what to put in that pack was the ultimate Rubik's Cube. I am curious: you packed nightgowns? I just slept in the next days' outfit.
I think I got my pack down to 14.5 pounds and I was so thrilled. I would bring even less next time, knowing there are pilgrim supply shops and pharmacies all over. That long packing list that we all got faced with ... lol, that was our first "crossing of the Pyrenees!" Did you wind up abandoning any gear anywhere, I wonder?
Glad I'm not the only one with a brain that automatically looks for a way to get around a rule!
Love your understanding of our first great challenge of the Pilgrim's journey-What to take and what to leave behind.
Yes, I did take 2 nightgowns, but they were very light weight. After my evening shower, I was very happy to be free from all those clothes.
As you will see, soon after I start walking, I find a partner to split the cost of a simple room with a private bath, so we had plenty of privacy. No, I did not abandon any gear. But was relieved to find how easy it was to pick up anything I did need a long the way.
Victoria, love this. We are sisters in backpack math. Reminds me of my first group backpacking trip through Carson National Forest in New Mexico for three weeks. I was in 8th grade, and my outdoor experience amounted to a week at Merrywood Day Camp. My mom's only interest in the outdoors was the sidewalk leading to the car, so she said nothing when I packed a change of clothes for each day and multiple pairs of shoes (just in case). Lord, I think my pack weighed about 50 pounds, especially when I volunteered to carry the group's sugar. Sadly, I left a trail of sweaters and jeans across the New Mexico wilderness. :-)
Oh my, your mom had no interest in what you took, but I would have thought that the camp directors would have provided strong guidance for such young backpackers! There are a lot of discarded items along the Camino, but we were grownups, so should have known better!
I love hearing stories about the Camino and all the challenges of packing and the mental and physical preparations that are necessary to take on the whole six week's of hiking. My Camino's were a bit different, as I chose an easier version--shorter overall distance with someone else moving my pack (or suitcase as it were!). No matter how you do it, the Camino is an adventure in and of itself. Plus it's addicting. I've done three of them now. Looking forward to reading more!
Well, after all that worry, once I got onto the Camino, I did learn about the easy backpack transportation set up and made use of it much of the time. I don’t think it was very well-known yet. I’d love to go back and do another route. Did you do it in sections or alternative routes each time?
My first was from Leon, Spain to Santiago with a hiking group and leader. I didn’t care for the pre planned itinerary and long hiking days, but the experience on the Camino was great (hiking through quaint villages and through ancient Celtic ruins). Two years later I organized a group of eight friends and hiked the Portuguese Coastal from Vila Praia Ancora to Santiago using a self-created itinerary with shorter hiking days. We also added the spiritual variant, which I’d say is a must. I loved it so much, I returned to Portugal this past May and hiked the Litoral route from Porto to Ancora (filled in the blank!) with a friend. It was my best experience so far, and didn’t even hike to Santiago! So many ways to do it, but slow and easy is the best. I think I need to write about that next!
Love it, Victoria ... especially your thought that if you weigh more, you can pack more! 😂🤣😂 I may have had that thought too, lol. Yes, figuring out what to put in that pack was the ultimate Rubik's Cube. I am curious: you packed nightgowns? I just slept in the next days' outfit.
I think I got my pack down to 14.5 pounds and I was so thrilled. I would bring even less next time, knowing there are pilgrim supply shops and pharmacies all over. That long packing list that we all got faced with ... lol, that was our first "crossing of the Pyrenees!" Did you wind up abandoning any gear anywhere, I wonder?
Glad I'm not the only one with a brain that automatically looks for a way to get around a rule!
Love your understanding of our first great challenge of the Pilgrim's journey-What to take and what to leave behind.
Yes, I did take 2 nightgowns, but they were very light weight. After my evening shower, I was very happy to be free from all those clothes.
As you will see, soon after I start walking, I find a partner to split the cost of a simple room with a private bath, so we had plenty of privacy. No, I did not abandon any gear. But was relieved to find how easy it was to pick up anything I did need a long the way.
Victoria, love this. We are sisters in backpack math. Reminds me of my first group backpacking trip through Carson National Forest in New Mexico for three weeks. I was in 8th grade, and my outdoor experience amounted to a week at Merrywood Day Camp. My mom's only interest in the outdoors was the sidewalk leading to the car, so she said nothing when I packed a change of clothes for each day and multiple pairs of shoes (just in case). Lord, I think my pack weighed about 50 pounds, especially when I volunteered to carry the group's sugar. Sadly, I left a trail of sweaters and jeans across the New Mexico wilderness. :-)
Oh my, your mom had no interest in what you took, but I would have thought that the camp directors would have provided strong guidance for such young backpackers! There are a lot of discarded items along the Camino, but we were grownups, so should have known better!
I love hearing stories about the Camino and all the challenges of packing and the mental and physical preparations that are necessary to take on the whole six week's of hiking. My Camino's were a bit different, as I chose an easier version--shorter overall distance with someone else moving my pack (or suitcase as it were!). No matter how you do it, the Camino is an adventure in and of itself. Plus it's addicting. I've done three of them now. Looking forward to reading more!
Well, after all that worry, once I got onto the Camino, I did learn about the easy backpack transportation set up and made use of it much of the time. I don’t think it was very well-known yet. I’d love to go back and do another route. Did you do it in sections or alternative routes each time?
My first was from Leon, Spain to Santiago with a hiking group and leader. I didn’t care for the pre planned itinerary and long hiking days, but the experience on the Camino was great (hiking through quaint villages and through ancient Celtic ruins). Two years later I organized a group of eight friends and hiked the Portuguese Coastal from Vila Praia Ancora to Santiago using a self-created itinerary with shorter hiking days. We also added the spiritual variant, which I’d say is a must. I loved it so much, I returned to Portugal this past May and hiked the Litoral route from Porto to Ancora (filled in the blank!) with a friend. It was my best experience so far, and didn’t even hike to Santiago! So many ways to do it, but slow and easy is the best. I think I need to write about that next!
I’d love to do the Portuguese route, too. . and most of all, take it slower and have time to be more meditative.